Beginning of Arc 3
Percy Jackson and the Political Bullshit

Chapter 16

28th June 2007
Halfblood Camp

Percy, Strategos by virtue of being Poseidon's sole offspring - well, as Tyson had already been sent to Atlantis-, meandered along the Camp Half-Blood Wall. Trying to look 'official' as a thirteen years old ordering around older teens was hard. Playing Strategos wasn't as glamorous as monsters.

Clarisse, the self-appointed drill sergeant and - he had to admit - a surprisingly fantastic Polemarch, had instituted a guard schedule and a boot camp for the likely event that the Thalia tree's protective dome went on vacation. The Wall itself was a mishmash of steampunk flair and ancient Greek randomness. Cogs and gears jutted out like abstract sculptures, giving the place a vibe that screamed, "Charles Beckendorf had a little too much fun here." Defense towers looked like they had been dunked in bronze glitter, and Percy couldn't help but wonder if this was what happened when demigods tried DIY projects.

As Percy sauntered along, every so often, a gear would let out a tiny squeak, as if protesting its role. But he had to admit that the Wall did radiate an undeniable charm. It stood tall and proud, and Percy couldn't help but smile, thinking that if the monsters ever decided to invade, they'd have to face not just demigods but a steampunk, Greek-inspired obstacle course. Made by demigods alone. Not the gods, like the dome.

Then, he felt something...and terror enveloped him. Gathering his courage, he climbed down from the wall and made his way to the camp's central square, where Dionysus had just appeared. He noticed that all the campers were pale, and some had cowered in on themselves. Waves of anger emanated from the god who...was it ichor running down his brow? Had Dionysus been wounded?

The sight of the God's blood reassured Luke, who at first had thought the god was furious that they had proceeded with the elections without his approval.

"Dad...are you Okey?"

Dionysus looked down and saw his son who, despite his terror, had approached him. The sight calmed him and, gradually, the aura of terror and madness that threatened to seize every member of the camp subsided. However, the campers kept on bowing and none dared to stand up.

"I heard that Thalia's tree was poisoned", the god boomed, and every camper felt the heaviness of His voice on their shoulders. "My father accused Chiron, the Son of Kronos".

Silence felt on the camp, as the old centaur looked resigned. "Per order of Zeus, Chiron…I'm sorry but you are revoked as the head trainer of the camp".

The campers started screaming in outrage. "Know that, However, I am the sole owner of the DionysHouse, and I welcome you as a guest if you want to stay here".

The old trainer thanked the god, but said he preferred to leave, as per the spirit of Zeus' orders.

Dionysos turned to Luke and continued. "My Father wanted me to name Tantalus as his replacement but, with your…anticipated elections, there is no need to find him a replacement. I am proud of you for spontaneously coming to this decision. Rock will keep training you in the way of the warrior, and that will be enough".

The god of wine looked at the withering poisoned tree, visible a few hundreds meters away. "I hereby declare that a quest will be undertaken. The juice of three apples from the Hesperides garden should be able to solve this problem. Archons and Strategoï, meet me at the Bouleuterion in ten minutes".

28th June 2007
Halfblood Camp

Percy sat down in one of the seats reserved for the Strategoi. Two people he didn't know had replaced Luke and Clarisse since their election. As Castor had been appointed Strategos, there had been no replacement for Pollux.

Dionysus, this time three or four meters tall, appeared in his seat. He didn't bother with sibylline words.

"I had intended to appoint Luke and Clarisse to this quest...but, with your new responsibilities, you can't leave the camp." Clarisse grumbled, while Luke nodded.

"Percy, Annabeth and Silena, you'll go to the Garden of the Hesperides for three apples. Charles Beckendorf, just in case, redouble your efforts in reinforcing the walls. I want picks and automatic machine guns. And finish off this "Festus" mechanical dragon of yours, so it can patrol the skies". The Strategoi nodded, and Dionysus waved them out of the room.

29th June 2007
Team Spades secret base in the Rocky Mountain

"YOUUUUTH", screamed Trainer Grover Lee as he plummeted three of the werewolves in the ground. With the same movement.

"YOU ARE TOO WEAK TO JOIN US! TOO WEAK…YET! WITH THE POWER OF TRAINING AND YOUTH, WE'LL MAKE A NINJ…A SOLDIER OUT OF YOU"

Lupin groaned as he tried to stand up. What the fuck? A goat manhandling a wolf?

He charged again…and failed once more landing a hit on the strange teen that liked green spandex.

29th June 2007
Halfblood Camp

The forest came alive with the rustling of leaves as Katie Gardner - Demeter's Strategos , Clarisse Larue, Lee Fletcher - Apollo's Strategos, Charles Beckendorf, and the mischievous duo Castor and Pollux blinked into existence. Clad in their mismatched pajamas, they found themselves in the heart of an unfamiliar woods.

"Where in Hades are we?" grumbled Clarisse, surveying the scene with a scowl, her pajamas bearing an incongruous pattern of flaming skulls.

Katie, attempting to gather her bearings, ran a hand through her tousled hair, "I was definitely not dreaming of a forest slumber party."

Lee Fletcher, his eyes scanning the surroundings, remarked, "I hope this isn't a monster-infested dream."

Charles Beckendorf, with a raised eyebrow, inspected his pajamas as if they held the key to their mysterious predicament. "These are definitely not my usual bedtime attire." Why was he wearing Borat underwear?

Meanwhile, Castor and Pollux, the cheeky twins, exchanged mischievous glances, seemingly unfazed by the situation. They nudged each other, stifling giggles…until they saw Rock coming in the clearing…with a sword. Fuck! A sword? Not bowling pins?

Dionysos, the god of wine, materialized beside him, a goblet of wine in hand. "Don't look so perplexed, my friends!". He drank a bit from the glass, moaning.

"You see, dear friends, if Thalia's tree has been poisoned, it's because one of the campers is guilty."

The group nodded, clearly aware that the dome would not have let in someone else.

"And I know who it is!", he added cheekily. "However, unfortunately I can't reveal it to you for matters of...shall we say, politics. Bloody rubbish, I know. Just know that I'm keeping a close eye on him. Very closely. And, let's say, to compensate for my inability to act, I've decided to form a...small working group. Look at each other".

The campers comply.

"No one here is a traitor. And that's why I'm going to make a revelation. Kronos is awakening."

"What?" cried Clarisse and Lee.

"Kronos is awakening, and some of the demigods have betrayed Olympus. That's why I've decided to...prepare some of the most loyal to O...to the camp by giving them access to additional information and more...intense training."

Rockoon smiled, twirling his blades. Some campers gulped, but Clarisse's eyes gleamed happily.

"However, before that, I must ask you to swear on the River Styx that you won't betray me - otherwise I'll erase your memories and send you back to sleep".

Charles Beckendorf, a little less terrified of Dionysus now that he met him weekly for a drink and a chat about progress, formulated aloud what many were thinking out loud.

"Swearing fealty to Olympus...It wouldn't change our situation, so why not. But to you? When, potentially, you could become an enemy of our divine parents? Use us against them?"

Dionysus smiled at them.

"I swear on the Styx to never shackle you…and to help you become truly free!"

The sky rumbled, as the demigods looked at each others. He was implying...that they should...emancipate themselves from the gods or something, wasn't he?

Surprising everyone, Clarisse stepped forward without hesitation. "I'm in. Dad never recognized me, and I'm sick of risking my life hoping for a pat on the head as a reward. I'm going to become someone in my own right!".

"I'll never go against Olympus, but if it is necessary to protect the camp and my friends…Count me in!", said Charles while making a step forward, soon followed by Lee, Castor and Pollux. At the end, even Katie agreed.

"Perfect! And let's go for nightly training with a Rockoon"

1st July 2007
Somewhere in a swamp.

"Wooohooooo!" Icarus, the Jack of Spades, zoomed through the air on his mechanical wings, letting out an exuberant cheer. He had to meet this Charles Beckendorf to thank him! It was so much better than the ones his father had done back in the days! His heavy machine gun rattled, peppering the Hydra below with a shower of bullets.

Spinning and flipping with the finesse of an airborne daredevil, Icarus expertly avoided the Hydra's gnashing teeth. It was like a dance-off, with Icarus as the lead and the Hydra struggling to keep up.

Satyrs and Werewolves, armed with chains and a whole lot of nerve, scurried around the Hydra's massive feet. They looked like a bunch of hyperactive squirrels trying to tie knots in spaghetti. Despite their whimsical efforts, they were determined to chain the Hydra down. Icarus, with a cheeky grin, executed a mid-air somersault just as a Hydra head lunged for him. The beast snapped at thin air as Icarus taunted it from above.

"Missed me, missed me! Now you gotta kiss me—oh wait, don't, you're gross!"

While the Hydra was busy trying to munch on Icarus-shaped air, the Satyrs seized the opportunity. Chains clinked, and the forest echoed with their version of a choreographed chain dance. They looped and tangled the creature's feet, creating a makeshift Hydra leash.

Smoking in the background, Medusa looked one of the Werewolves being eaten by the Hydra. She really had to recruit more competent guys for her Hit Squad, she thought, while the Hydra roared in frustration.

Icarus, still airborne and wielding his heavy machine gun like a rockstar's guitar, declared, "Time to turn up the volume! The Boss wants it alive!" More bullets rained down, further distracting the Hydra.

The forest became a chaotic stage for this demigod-and-Satyr circus, complete with aerial stunts, clumsy chain maneuvers, and the Hydra's disgruntled roars. As the Jack of Spades continued his high-flying performance, the Satyrs down below were making a quirky mythological attempt at Hydra rodeo.

2nd July 2007
In a mall

In the midst of a shopping frenzy turned monster mosh pit - courtesy of Questing with Aphrodite's daughter-, Silena Beauregard, Percy Jackson, and Annabeth Chase found themselves facing off against Lestrygons dressed in Desigual.

Horrible.

They truly were monsters.

"Looks like the clearance sale got out of hand this time!" Percy quipped as he unsheathed Riptide.

Silena, brandishing her celestial bronze sword, shot back, "Well, I've never seen a giant markdown on monsters before!"

Percy, with a grin, looked at the walls of the mall, and made a gesture with his hands. As fountains erupted and sprinklers sprayed, the Lestrygons crashed into clothing racks. Annabeth, directing the chaos, shouted, "Clearance on aisle four! Everything must go!" The trio weaved through the commercial chaos, narrowly avoiding toppling mannequins and dodging Lestrygon heads.

3rd July 2007
Underworld

In the shadows of the Underworld, a dozen of blonde teens with cryptic grey eyes formed a silent queue before the Styx.

"For the Owl!"

They jumped. The Styx, unforgiving and enigmatic, claimed half of them. Their forms convulsed with unseen forces, and shadows deepened in their grey eyes, marking a price paid. The survivors emerged marked, their eyes now mirrors to the river's ancient secrets.